Table of Contents

Negative Volume Index (NVI)

Introduction

The Negative Volume Index (NVI) is a cumulative indicator that uses the change in volume to decide when the smart money is active. Paul Dysart first developed this indicator in the 1930s. In fact, the Market Technicians Association selected Dysart for their annual award in 1990 to recognize his contributions to technical analysis. Dysart's Negative Volume Index works under the assumption that the smart money is active on days when volume decreases and the not-so-smart money is active on days when volume increases.

SharpCharts Calculation

There are two versions of the Negative Volume Index. In the original version, Dysart formed a cumulative line by adding Net Advances when volume decreased from one period to the other. Net Advances equal advancing issues less declining issues. The cumulative NVI line was unchanged when volume increased from one period to the other. In other words, nothing was done. Norman Fosback, of Stock Market Logic, adjusted the indicator by substituting the percentage price change for Net Advances. The SharpCharts formula uses this Fosback version.

The spreadsheet example shows the calculation in detail. The Price %Change was multiplied by 100 to reduce the number of decimal places needed. First, notice the Volume %Change column. When this value is negative, the percentage change for the S&P 500 is entered into the NVI Value column. When this value is positive, nothing appears for the NVI Value. Starting at 1000, the NVI Values are applied each period to create a cumulative indicator that only changes when volume decreases.

Signal

The traditional use of the Negative Volume Index is quite simple. According to Fosback, the odds favor a bull market when NVI is above its 255-day EMA and the odds favor a bear market when NVI is below. However, Fosback notes that these odds are not symmetrical. There is a 96% chance of a bull market when NVI is above its 255-day EMA, but only a 53% chance of a bear market when NVI is below its 255-day EMA.

The chart above shows the Dow Industrials with NVI in the lower window. Even with a long-term moving average, there are plenty of whipsaws (bad signals). Notice how the indicator crossed the 255-day EMA several times in 1998-1998 as it zigzagged higher. There were also several crosses in 2001-2002 as trading in the Dow Industrials turned volatile. The signals from late 2002 were less prone to whipsaw as stronger trends emerged. Chartists can expect some lag because moving averages lag and a 255-day EMA is being used to generate signals.

Fine Tuning

Even though NVI was designed with a major stock index in mind, chartists can use NVI with ETFs, stocks or anything that has volume. Keep in mind that the rationale behind the indicator is a bit unconventional because price moves on increasing volume are basically ignored.

The example above shows the Consumer Discretionary SPDR (XLY) with NVI and two exponential moving averages. The general trend is up when NVI is above its 255-day EMA (red). A move below the 100-day EMA shows a correction within this uptrend. Chartists can also apply basic technical analysis to this indicator by drawing trend lines. There were three corrective periods from January 2010 to July 2012 (blue lines). A break above these trend lines signaled the end of a corrective period and a resumption of the uptrend, for NVI that is. These breakout signals also foreshadowed significant price moves in the underlying (XLY).

Conclusions

The Negative Volume Index (NVI) is a hybrid indicator that combines inputs from Paul Dysart and Norman Fosback. NVI counts price changes when volume decreases and discounts price changes when volume increases. The assumption is that the smart (informed) money is at work when volume decreases and the not-so-smart (uninformed) money is at work when volume increases. Keep in mind that this indicator was designed for broad market indices and exchange volume. It can be used on stocks and ETFs, but NVI does not always act as expected. NVI will produce some great bullish/bearish divergence signals with some stocks, but look totally out of sync with other stocks. As with all indicators, NVI should not be used on its own. Instead, chartists should use it in conjunction with other analysis techniques.

SharpCharts and the Negative Volume Index

The Negative Volume Index (NVI) can be found in the Indicators section under the chart. NVI is set as a cumulative indicator and cannot be adjusted. Chartists can adjust the exponential moving average by changing the number in the Parameters box. Setting the parameter to “1” will essentially remove the moving average. The indicator can then be positioned behind the main charting window, above the main charting window or below the main charting window. It helps to change the color when placing it behind the main charting window's price plot. Chartists can apply another moving average or indicator to NVI using the “advanced” indicator options. The example below shows the rate-of-change oscillator applied to NVI in the indicator window. Click here for a live example of NVI in action.

Further Study

Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets has a chapter devoted to volume and a chapter covering breadth indicators in detail. Pring's book has a chapter devoted to making volume a part of your analysis process.